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The lands that form Albert County are diverse, unique, and set the stage for local prosperity and worldwide impact. Albertite, found only in Albert County, is a shiny, black, solidified bitumen that closely resembles coal. Named after the county, it was discovered by Gould Hoar in 1820. Abraham Gesner experimented with Albertite in the 1830s to produce kerosene, which replaced whale oil in lamps. Lamp oil was one of the main reasons for the whaling industry.
Albert County has land areas well suited to agriculture. From the earliest settlements, farmers throughout the county tapped trees, raised crops and livestock to maintain their families. Surplus produce or livestock was often traded or sold at local markets. In the 1800s, marshland hay was a valuable cash crop, being exported to Europe for $8 to $10 a ton. The Tingley Nursery supplied the Maritimes and world markets with choice apple and plum tree scions for grafting.
lumber to markets all over the world.
The world famous Hopewell Rocks has been a place of wonder since the Mi'kmaq travelled the Bay of Fundy. Visitors come to witness the highest tides in the world, which rise and fall the height of a four-story building twice a day!
Fundy National Park, which opened in July 1950, features hiking and biking trails, campgrounds and over 25 waterfalls. Another attraction is the Dobson Trail, named after Dr. Art Dobson, who in 1959 started the initiative to build the 57.75 km hiking trail from Riverview to Fundy National Park.
Albertite was mined from 1854 until 1884, being shipped mostly to Boston to be used for gas works.
The most important mineral mined in Albert County was gypsum. The Albert Manufacturing Company operated a gypsum mine, four quarries, a private railway, and a plaster mill which provided employment from 1854 until 1980. In the 1930's Albert County produced 80% of the gypsum mined in New Brunswick to be exported.
In 1909, the Stoney Creek Oil Fields were discovered, and production began. In 1923, the production of crude oil in Albert County was 308,984 gallons, and 619,673 cubic feet of gas. By 1925, sixty-six wells had been bored in the Stoney Creek oil fields. These wells supplied the local market for over 50 years and some are still in production.
Albert Mines Circa 1860
Railways connecting communities for freight and passengers were completed: Petitcodiac to Elgin (1876); Salisbury to Hillsborough (1876); Hillsborough to Hopewell Corner (Albert) (1877); Albert to Alma (1884). In 1911, the railway became part of the Canadian National Railway.
Albert County's forests, surrounded by rivers, provided the ideal location for the lumbering industry which brought employment and prosperity for many years. The 1851 Census recorded 97 sawmills operating in the County! During the winter, crews of men would spend weeks in the woods cutting timber and staying in “lumber camps”. In the spring the logs would be floated down on the “river drives” to the mill. The lumbering industry also supported the building of wooden sailing ships, which then carried the
Connie train, Hillsbrough
Stoney Creek Oil Well
THE LAND
51 EGAP AC.571CA.WWW TISIV - 571 YTNUOC TREBLA